The vampire mission was complete.
The Rank 5 undead had fallen—its body sealed in a mana coffin and sent to the Demon Hunter Division.
Ezra walked down the polished marble halls of the Demon Hunter HQ, escorted by two junior agents. His clothes were stained with blood and smoke, but his expression remained calm.
Inside the command room, Cassy Ironshade sat at her desk, arms folded. She raised an eyebrow as Ezra entered, holding a sealed report in one hand and an enchanted fang in the other.
"You actually killed him?" she asked.
Ezra nodded and placed the vampire’s fang on her desk with quiet precision.
Cassy leaned back in her chair, examining him with a mixture of disbelief and quiet awe.
"You’re... full of surprises. A Rank C mission meant for a whole squad... and you cleared it solo."
Eventually, Cassy chuckled and slid a heavy pouch of gold coins and a silver emblem across the table.
"Your reward. Fifteen hundred gold coins, and an emblem confirming mission clearance."
Ezra took them silently.
"Thanks," he said, turning to leave.
"Wait." Cassy’s voice followed him. "You’re only eighteen, right?"
He paused... then nodded.
"Rank 4... at that age..." she muttered. "I’ll be watching your career closely."
Ezra left without another word.
Etherlight Awakener Society – Registration Wing
The front hall buzzed with activity. Awakeners filled the counters, some testing their mana, others laughing nervously.
Ezra walked in quietly, clad in a plain hoodie, his silver hair tied loosely behind him. He kept his mana suppressed to Rank 1. No one gave him a second glance.
He stepped up to the counter.
"Name?" the clerk asked, not bothering to look up.
"Ezra Celestrian. I’m here to re-register."
The clerk blinked and typed. After a moment, her fingers paused over the screen.
"Ezra Celestrian... Previously listed as missing. Last registered at Rank 3. Core... unidentified."
She looked up, surprised.
Ezra offered a half-smile. "Seems so."
The clerk composed herself. "Place your hand on the orb."
Ezra complied. The moment his palm touched the crystal, a soft pulse echoed through the hall.
The orb flared—not violently, but bright enough to silence the room.
[Realm Confirmed: Rank 4 – Active Aura Detected]
[Core: Unidentifiable]
"You’re... eighteen?"
She looked at him again—no noble crest, no entourage, no clan ring.
"...What the hell," she whispered under her breath.
She handed him a scroll.
"You’re officially re-registered. Your identification badge will be delivered tomorrow. And... congratulations."
Ezra turned and walked out as whispers rose behind him.
Society Command Floor – Surveillance Chamber
A secure line flickered on.
"Sir," the attendant saluted. "Ezra Celestrian’s registration is complete."
"Seal the file," Ren said calmly. "Classify it under Kurogane-level encryption. Core status, mana traits, combat potential—everything."
The officer hesitated. "Even the Council—?"
"Not even the President gets access without my signature."
As the screen dimmed, the officer looked at Ezra’s profile and muttered:
"Rank 4 at eighteen... Kurogane-level encryption... who is this kid?"
Later That Day – Etherlight’s Quiet Sector
Ezra sat in a small, cozy salon tucked away in a quieter district.
His long, silver-white hair hung over his shoulders as the stylist examined him carefully.
"You sure you want it short?" she asked.
Ezra nodded. "Never liked long hair."
The scissors began to snip.
Piece by piece, silver locks fell away.
By the time the stylist was done, Ezra’s new look was sleek, clean, and sharp—medium-length, slightly tousled, perfectly layered. The reflection that looked back at him was refined. Composed. Strong.
"Looks good," he said softly.
"It suits you," the stylist replied with a smile.
Ezra left the shop quietly, hands in pockets.
The evening sun bathed Etherlight in gold as Ezra walked down the path. He moved calmly—no urgency, no noise.
Just then, he spotted a young woman with striking red hair helping an elderly man across the street. Her features were kind, and she smiled warmly.
Ezra paused. Something about her presence felt... nostalgic.
A roar of a bike tore through the road.
The rider swerved past, yanking the woman’s bag from her shoulder. The girl shouted:
"Thief! That’s my bag!"
Before anyone could react, Ezra vanished.
He reappeared above the biker mid-air. One hand on the thief’s shoulder, his grip unshakable.
With effortless strength, Ezra flung the man skyward—his bag flying free.
The bike spun out and crashed to the side.
Ezra landed calmly, catching the bag in one hand and grabbing the thief before he hit the ground.
He dropped the man gently on the pavement and walked over to the stunned woman.
Ezra gently handed the stolen bag back to the red-haired girl.
He smiled politely and said,
The girl took it with both hands and bowed slightly.
"Thank you so much for helping me!"
Ezra nodded, but his eyes lingered on her for a moment.
He wasn’t sure why, but something about her felt... familiar.
Not her face. But her presence.
He tilted his head and added,
"Though... you didn’t really need help, did you?"
The girl blinked. "Huh?"
Ezra smirked just a little.
"You’re clearly trained. I saw the way your stance shifted the moment he took the bag—you could’ve captured him yourself."
The girl looked slightly flustered and scratched her cheek.
"Well, I am an Academy student... but I’m a magician. So, you know, we’re not allowed to use combat magic in public unless it’s self-defense or officially licensed."
Ezra raised an eyebrow.
"Academy student? Which academy?"
There were several large ones across Etherlight. He asked casually—but inside, a subtle tension was building.
The girl placed a hand on her hip with a proud smile.
"Etherlight School of Awakeners."
Something clicked in the back of his mind.
That name. That face. That aura.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, keeping his tone steady.
"Etherlight, huh... What’s your name?"
The girl looked up and replied cheerfully,
Ezra’s expression froze for half a second.
Not from his memories as Ezra Celestrian... but from the web novel he’d once read as Shivam.
The moment she said her first name, the memories surged like a storm.
One of the main heroines.
A future Rank -9 Magician.
And eventually... the wife of the original protagonist.
She continued without hesitation,
"Lyria Aetherhart. My grandfather’s on the Human High Council. You’ve probably heard of him—Grand Duke Arken Aetherhart?"
Ezra swallowed lightly.
He had definitely heard that name.
The oldest living Rank 9 awakener.
A legendary Archmage and politician feared and respected in equal measure.
Ezra’s mind was racing now.
(So she’s the one... she hasn’t awakened her true potential yet, but the foundations are already here.)
Still, he kept his tone light.
"Yeah... I’ve heard of him."
Lyria smiled. "Well, if you ever need a favor, maybe I can help sometime."
Ezra chuckled softly.
"I’ll remember that."
They parted ways shortly after. Lyria waved as she disappeared into the crowd of Etherlight.
Ezra, meanwhile, stood there for a moment longer, staring into the distance.
"Female lead... huh."
He muttered under his breath.
"So the story really has started moving forward."